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Gayla Sue Oxendine Graves, 79, Elizabethton, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital. She was born July 10, 1943 in Elizabethton to the late John and Christine Smith Oxendine.
Gayla was a 1961 graduate of Elizabethton High School. She was a retired employee of Raytheon Corporation, Bristol, after 34 years of service. She loved flowers, bird watching and shopping. She was a member of Borderview Christian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Maurice “Moe” Graves; two daughters, Jody Shipley and wife Laura and Tina Hardin; one granddaughter, Zoe Shipley; two step-sons, Buzz and Tracy Graves; her cat Tila; one aunt, Joann Cable; two uncles, Terry Smith and Tom Oxendine; and also several cousins.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 25, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Mr. Sammy Oxendine and Mr. Scott Fisher, ministers, officiating. Music will be provided by Sacred Journey. The graveside service and interment will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 26, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Joseph Greenwell, Wes Johnson, Jimmy Cable, Chris Timmons, Joel Norris and Stevie Burrough. The family would like to express a special thank you to the nursing staff at Sycamore Shoals Hospital including Courtney, Candace, Hana, Mark, Jessica and Linda, and also the nursing staff at Life Care Center of Elizabethton. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Graves family.